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| New York City cancels marathon amid controversy over Sandy recovery | New York City cancels marathon amid controversy over Sandy recovery |
| (7 days later) | |
| Mayor Michael Bloomberg bowed to intense pressure on Friday over this weekend's New York marathon, cancelling the race which would have taken place against the backdrop of the destruction caused by super storm Sandy. | Mayor Michael Bloomberg bowed to intense pressure on Friday over this weekend's New York marathon, cancelling the race which would have taken place against the backdrop of the destruction caused by super storm Sandy. |
| A few hours after delivering a defiant message that the event would go ahead as planned, Bloomberg's office announced the abrupt U-turn, saying that City Hall did not want a "cloud to hang over the race or its participants". | A few hours after delivering a defiant message that the event would go ahead as planned, Bloomberg's office announced the abrupt U-turn, saying that City Hall did not want a "cloud to hang over the race or its participants". |
| The decision came amid growing anger and disbelief that the mayor would press ahead on Sunday even though Staten Island, where the race was due to start, was the borough worst hit by Monday's storm. | The decision came amid growing anger and disbelief that the mayor would press ahead on Sunday even though Staten Island, where the race was due to start, was the borough worst hit by Monday's storm. |
| "While holding the race would not require diverting resources from the recovery effort, it is clear that it has become the source of controversy and division," said a statement released on Friday evening on behalf of Bloomberg and the New York Road Runners, the event organisers. | "While holding the race would not require diverting resources from the recovery effort, it is clear that it has become the source of controversy and division," said a statement released on Friday evening on behalf of Bloomberg and the New York Road Runners, the event organisers. |
| "The marathon has always brought our city together and inspired us with stories of courage and determination. We would not want a cloud to hang over the race or its participants, and so we have decided to cancel it. | "The marathon has always brought our city together and inspired us with stories of courage and determination. We would not want a cloud to hang over the race or its participants, and so we have decided to cancel it. |
| "We cannot allow a controversy over an athletic event – even one as meaningful as this – to distract attention away from all the critically important work that is being done to recover from the storm and get our city back on track." | "We cannot allow a controversy over an athletic event – even one as meaningful as this – to distract attention away from all the critically important work that is being done to recover from the storm and get our city back on track." |
| Organisers will give participants additional information in the days ahead, the statement concluded. | Organisers will give participants additional information in the days ahead, the statement concluded. |
| Runners gave the decision a mixed response. Stephanie Kiahtipes, 35, who lives in Brooklyn, said: "I have put so much effort into this, but I understand and think the city made the right decision. I have my family, my home and I can always run at a later date." | Runners gave the decision a mixed response. Stephanie Kiahtipes, 35, who lives in Brooklyn, said: "I have put so much effort into this, but I understand and think the city made the right decision. I have my family, my home and I can always run at a later date." |
| Brooke Wood, 31, originally from Australia but now living in New York, said: "I am disappointed not to be running. I had apprehensions about it taking place, but you can't say it is on, then less than 48 hours before the race starts say it is off. | Brooke Wood, 31, originally from Australia but now living in New York, said: "I am disappointed not to be running. I had apprehensions about it taking place, but you can't say it is on, then less than 48 hours before the race starts say it is off. |
| "I want to know now whether it has been postponed or cancelled – do I get to run next year. There is not enough information." | "I want to know now whether it has been postponed or cancelled – do I get to run next year. There is not enough information." |
| Earlier on Friday, Bloomberg had insisted the event would go ahead and compared it to the decision to hold the race in 2001, shortly after the terrorist attacks on lower Manhattan. | Earlier on Friday, Bloomberg had insisted the event would go ahead and compared it to the decision to hold the race in 2001, shortly after the terrorist attacks on lower Manhattan. |
| "We have to find some way to express ourselves and show solidarity with each other," he said, adding: "We have to have a city going forward," he added.found himself with little support for holding the event. | "We have to find some way to express ourselves and show solidarity with each other," he said, adding: "We have to have a city going forward," he added.found himself with little support for holding the event. |
| But he received little support. Christine Quinn, the city council speaker and normally an ally of Bloomberg, broke ranks with him. In a statement, she said: "The decision to move forward with the marathon is not a decision I would have made." | But he received little support. Christine Quinn, the city council speaker and normally an ally of Bloomberg, broke ranks with him. In a statement, she said: "The decision to move forward with the marathon is not a decision I would have made." |
| She continued: "That said, I think we need to look forward and continue to focus on the task at hand – helping those without electricity, food and water and rebuilding our city." | She continued: "That said, I think we need to look forward and continue to focus on the task at hand – helping those without electricity, food and water and rebuilding our city." |
| "If it takes one first responder from Staten Island to cover this marathon I will scream. We have people with no homes and no hope right now," Jimmy Oddo, city councilor representing the stricken borough, tweeted, before news of the cancellation was known | "If it takes one first responder from Staten Island to cover this marathon I will scream. We have people with no homes and no hope right now," Jimmy Oddo, city councilor representing the stricken borough, tweeted, before news of the cancellation was known |
| And he was not alone in his anger. A growing online campaign demanded the race officials have a change of heart in light of the carnage brought upon Staten Island. | And he was not alone in his anger. A growing online campaign demanded the race officials have a change of heart in light of the carnage brought upon Staten Island. |
| To date, some 19 people are confirmed to have died on the borough, nearly half of the total for New York City. But many in the borough feel marginalized in the recovery effort, with focus instead on its more glamourous neighbour Manhattan. | To date, some 19 people are confirmed to have died on the borough, nearly half of the total for New York City. But many in the borough feel marginalized in the recovery effort, with focus instead on its more glamourous neighbour Manhattan. |
| Staten Island resident Paul Ferdandez was typical of the frustration felt, describing initial plans to stage the race as a further "slap in the face". | Staten Island resident Paul Ferdandez was typical of the frustration felt, describing initial plans to stage the race as a further "slap in the face". |
| "I think it is bullshit, we need some help down here. We need help fixing the beaches, fixing people's houses. Nobody is helping us here, nobody is saying everything," he added. | "I think it is bullshit, we need some help down here. We need help fixing the beaches, fixing people's houses. Nobody is helping us here, nobody is saying everything," he added. |
| Bloomberg had vowed that emergency resources would not be diverted, adding that the race is a source of revenue for the city, with tens of thousands of out-of-towners either participating or watching the annual race. | Bloomberg had vowed that emergency resources would not be diverted, adding that the race is a source of revenue for the city, with tens of thousands of out-of-towners either participating or watching the annual race. |
| "There are an awful lot of small businesses that depend on these people. We have to have an economy," he said in a press conference Wednesday. | "There are an awful lot of small businesses that depend on these people. We have to have an economy," he said in a press conference Wednesday. |
| It has been estimated that the annual road generates some $340m in additional economic activity. | It has been estimated that the annual road generates some $340m in additional economic activity. |
| But as the death toll in Staten Island becomes fully known, the voices of complaint got louder. | But as the death toll in Staten Island becomes fully known, the voices of complaint got louder. |
| Concern was not purely related to the possible diversion of resources away from the relief effort. There was also the matter of holding the race in conditions that are far from perfect. | Concern was not purely related to the possible diversion of resources away from the relief effort. There was also the matter of holding the race in conditions that are far from perfect. |
| Much of lower Manhattan remained without power on Friday. And despite suggestions from utilities firm ConEd that they hope to have electricity restored for most of Manhattan by Saturday, logistically the race could have turn into a nightmare. | Much of lower Manhattan remained without power on Friday. And despite suggestions from utilities firm ConEd that they hope to have electricity restored for most of Manhattan by Saturday, logistically the race could have turn into a nightmare. |
| State governor Andrew Cuomo made it clear earlier Friday that it was Bloomberg's decision. "There's a debate and I understand both sides," he said, pointedly refusing to publicly back the marathon. | State governor Andrew Cuomo made it clear earlier Friday that it was Bloomberg's decision. "There's a debate and I understand both sides," he said, pointedly refusing to publicly back the marathon. |
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